3:1 Hear this word the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel–against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:
3:2 “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
3:3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
3:4 Does a lion roar in the thicket when he has no prey? Does he growl in his den when he has caught nothing?
3:5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground where no snare has been set? Does a trap spring up from the earth when there is nothing to catch?
3:6 When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
3:7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
3:8 The lion has roared–who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken–who can but prophesy?
3:9 Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people.”
3:10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD, “who hoard plunder and loot in their fortresses.”
3:11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “An enemy will overrun the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”
3:12 This is what the LORD says: “As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved, those who sit in Samaria on the edge of their beds and in Damascus on their couches.”
3:13 “Hear this and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the LORD God Almighty.
3:14 “On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
3:15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the LORD.
3:1 Hear this word that Jehovah has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
3:2 Only you have I known / Of all the families of the earth; / Therefore I will visit upon you / All your iniquities.
3:3 Will two walk together / If they have not met at an appointed place?
3:4 Will the lion roar in the forest / When he has no prey? / Will a young lion utter his voice from his den / If he has not seized anything?
3:5 Will a bird fall into a trap on the earth / When there is no snare laid for it? / Will a trap spring up off the ground / When it has seized nothing at all?
3:6 Can a trumpet be blown in a city / And the people not dread? / Can there be ill in a city / And Jehovah did not do it?
3:7 Surely the Lord Jehovah will not do anything unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
3:8 The lion has roared ? / Who will not fear? / The Lord Jehovah has spoken ? / Who can but prophesy?
3:9 Cause it to be heard in the palaces of Ashdod / And in the palaces of the land of Egypt, and say, / Assemble yourselves in the mountains of Samaria, / And see what great tumults are in the midst of it / And what oppressions are within it;
3:10 And they do not know to do what is right, / Declares Jehovah, / They who store up violence and devastation in their palaces.
3:11 Therefore thus says the Lord Jehovah, / An adversary! Indeed one surrounding the land; / And he will bring down your strength from you, / And your palaces will be plundered.
3:12 Thus says Jehovah, As the shepherd rescues / Out of the mouth of the lion / Two legs or a piece of the ear, / So will the children of Israel / Who dwell in Samaria be rescued, / With the corner of a bed / And a silk cushion of a couch.
3:13 Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts.
3:14 For in the day when I visit / The transgressions of Israel upon him, / I will visit the altars of Bethel, / And the horns of the altar will be cut off / And will fall to the ground.
3:15 And I will strike the winter house / Along with the summer house; / And the houses of ivory will perish, / And many houses will come to an end, / Declares Jehovah.